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April FoolAuthor: Oda Sakunosuke
| Original Title | 四月馬鹿 |
|---|---|
| Author | 織田 作之助 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the bustling streets of Osaka, an eccentric novelist named Mr. Takeda captivates with his unkempt appearance and defiant spirit. Known as “Osaka’s filthiest man,” he rejects societal norms, reveling in grime and cheap taverns while penning raw, gritty tales of the working class. His life blurs with fiction: a peculiar café romance with waitress Ikuko ends in drunken humiliation, and rumors swirl about his antics—like tearing a bill mid-brawl with a taxi driver. Years later, in Tokyo, he battles deadlines under editors’ watchful eyes, oscillating between lethargy and bursts of creativity. Whispers of his demise—eaten by crocodiles, blinded by cheap whiskey—follow him like shadows. Yet his indomitable aura convinces acquaintances he’s invincible… until an April Fool’s obituary surfaces. Is this another of his self-mythologizing pranks, or a final, tragic punchline? Through fragmented memories and wry anecdotes, a portrait emerges of a man whose chaotic existence straddles reality and legend, leaving readers to wonder where the writer ends and the myth begins. |
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